69 



than have Jerseys or Ayrshires. The four recognised colours are 

 dun, dun-and-white, black, and black-and-white, the latter pre- 

 dominating and being most favoured. The colours are very 

 sharply defined, each being in distinct patches. The head is long 

 even for a dairy breed and fine, with well bent horns of a fine 

 shorthorn type inclining forward, and keeping fairly level with the 

 poll. The neck is slim rather than fleshy, and fairly long. Com- 

 pared with other dairy breeds the chest is deep and thick through 

 the heart, with comparatively thick withers and shoulders. The 

 coupling is long and the belly low and exceptionally capacious. 



Characteristics of the Breed. The outstanding characteristic of 

 the breed, as of its close relations in Holland and America, is the 

 extent to which the milk-producing powers have been developed. 

 Probably in this respect it is unequalled by any other breed. The 

 milk is not of such high quality as that of other dairy breeds, but 

 this is a point in which improvement can be effected by careful 

 and systematic selection. It is claimed that the fat globules are 

 unusually small, making the milk particularly suited for cheese 

 making. The breed is hardy and extremely adaptable, as is evi- 

 denced by the fact that it is highly valued in countries so different 

 as North Russia and semi-tropical South Africa. Some strains 

 may be regarded as dual-purpose cattle, but in this country it is 

 being developed as a dairy breed. 



The first volume of the Herd Book, just issued (1912), contains 

 3,000 entries, and the Society numbers over 220 members repre- 

 senting all parts of the United Kingdom. 



In the absence of official records, the following meritorious 

 performances notified to the British Holstein Society may be 

 mentioned. 



In three herds, numbering about 60 each, the following average 

 yields per cow were obtained in 1910 : 



I. 1,050 gallons (from cows alone). 

 II. 896 (from whole herd, including heifers). 

 111. 815 ., ,, ), 



Individual yields in 1911 and 1912 are 1,706 gallons in 47 weeks 

 and 1,314 gallons in 31 weeks. A celebrated cow, " Grace," in 

 seven years and ten months bred seven calves and gave 1 1,300 gallons 

 of milk. 



THE KERRY AND THE DEXTER. 



The Kerry is the only remaining pure breed of cattle of ancient 

 Irish origin out of several distinct sorts which remained till a 

 comparatively recent date. 



General Appearance of the Kerry. The following description 

 of the Kerry, written in 1872, is true of the breed to-day:" The 

 true Kerry is a light, neat, active animal, with fine and rather 

 long limbs, narrow rump, fine small head, lively projecting eyes, 

 full of fire and animation, with a fine waxy yellow cocked horn, 

 tipped with black." The colour is black, though a small patch of 

 white on the udder of the cow is permissible and common. Red 

 cattle are not now admitted to the Herd Book. 



